Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-07-06
A BRAKEMAN KILLED.
Tragical Ending Of An Encounter He.
tween Trainmen and ROuVhs.

Tragical Ending Of An Encounter Be-
tween Trainmen and ROughs.
Five men-Wesley Kidwell, Douglas Kidweil,
Alfred Kidwell VIM. Kidwell, and Albert Barrett
at work at Waterloo as employees OF the National
Press Brick Company, went to Alexandria yeSter-
day and got on spree. By O'Clock they were all
intoxicated, and when they boarded the evening
train for this city they were noisy and quarrel
s>me The conductor, Harry Myers, did not want
them to get on the train. but the men promised to
be orderly, and they were allowed to enter the
cars. They, however, became so noisy that the
conductor had the train stopped, and with the as
sistance OF the brakeman, George Wertenbaker,
the baggage-master, Samuel Garnett, and the en-
gineer, James Davis, the men were put of. They,
returning to the car, and in the struggle Davis
was struck in the face with brick, and Werten-
baker in ke abdomen just below the sternum
was wa thrown ny BY SSH William % Kidweil. werten, @
baker sank to the ground with a groan,
and the five men frightened at Shat they had done,
ran away. Wertenbaktr was placed on the cars,
but by the time the train reached the Long Bridge
he was dead The cause OF death was Internal
hemorrhage. The struggle with the gang took
place at st. Asaph's station, and from there the
police authorities in Alexandria and this city
were notified. BY the prompt action OF the police
the railroad, and were taken to Alexandria, where
they were locked up. They are all young men.
The three ktdWelS are brothers.
The dead man, Wertenbaker, was but twenty
two years OF age, and resided at 16 / street
northeast, With his parents. When his father was
informed last evening OF the death OF his son he
fell to the floor In an unconscious condition, and
the physician thought that he was in precariOus
state from the shock to his nervous system.
the affair." and it is stated offered no assistance TO
the trainmen.
THE DEATH OCCURRED IN VIRGINIA
Coroner Patterson, OF the District, was notified
OF the case and the following jury OF inquest was
summoned: Edward Burke, John Crogan, Patrick
1t was stated that Wertenbaker had died in vir-
gna and in order to establish that fact and settle
the question OF jurisdiction the coroner heard the
evidence OF two witnesses, as follows:
Robt. H. Kemp, passenger, testified that
Wertenbaker died on the train just south OF the
Long Bridge. Witness felt his heart and pulse
and there was no respiration. His face had begun
Harry j. Meyers the conductor on the train, was
OF the opinion that Wertenbaker died In Virginia.
His face had turned purple and he had ceased to
breathe Witness remarked that he was dead be-
fore the train arrived at the bridge.
The coroner decided that the Virginia authori-
ties had Jurisdiction in the case, and gave GER
t1ficate OF death from wound in the stomach A
number Of witnesses had been summoned from
Alexandria. The witnesses accompanied the re-
mains on the II o'clock train to Alexandria, where
a corOner's jury had been notified TO assemble at
1890.
THE INQUEST TO BE HELD IN ALEXANDRIA.
The body of Wertenbaker arrived In Alexandria
on the 12 :O4 train, on which he would have been
on duty had he not been killed. Persons about the
station in Alexandria said that the crew on the
train are so overworked that toward the AFTER
noon they are completely tired out and in no con-
dition to defend themselves against ruffians who
may attack them They start in the MORN
ing at 6:O5 O'Clock and make eighteen single
trips between Alexandria and Washington the
last trip ending about 1880 O'Clock, making
a days work Of more than sixteen hours. The
question arose whether DR.. Powell, the Alexandria
city coroner, could hold an inquest Or not. It was
claimed that as the blow was inflicted and the
death occurred in Alexandria County the inquest
would have to be held by the county coroner, DR..
Birch, who lives near Arlington. IL was finally
decided by Mr.. Marbury, the corporation attorney,
that the inquest would have TO be held by Coroner
Birch, and messenger was sent TO Arlington after
that official Coroner Powell was found by STAR
reporter after considerable delay, and he decided
to hold the inquest in the city OF Alexandria this
afternoon. The body was taken to Wheatleys un-
dertaking establishment.
THE PRISONERS COMMITTED.
The mayor Of Alexandria this Afternoon with
out hearing the full case against the Kidwels and
Barry, for the murder Of the brakeman, Geo. Wer-
tenbaker, committed them for a further hearing.
Killed in a Quarrel About Five Cents.
GEORGE HOLMES ON TRIAL FOR THE MURDER OF
DAVID H. BANKS.
In the Criminal Court, Judge Montgomery, this
morning. the trial OF Geo. Holmes, colored, for the
ary 23d last, by striking him with a club, was
commenced District Attorney Worthington for
the Government and Mr.. j. w. Walker for the de-
fendant Some time was spent in obtaining q
Jury. Benjamin Hart, Geo. Holmes, ThoS. Somer-
vile, and L. d: Douglass stated thaI tney nad
and it was admitted that their scruples would
prevent them giving verdict OF guilty. although
he could not understand why this state OF mind
would not disqualify q man from serving as a
INV nv iO:45 o'clock the requisite twelve Jurors
were obtained, as follows: Edward Graves, A. p.
White, Jas. W. Rock, L. D. Meiine, w. A. Barnes g..
H. Miller, Chas: D. Campbell N. W. Perr1man, II.
w. Peters, +. v. Ofutt, c. Rupert, and A. G..
DemOnet.
District Attorney worthington opened the case,
dhs
OF whisky; that Holmes struck Banks with club.
and then got Cn him and beat him till he was
Mr. Walker said that they would admit the blow
and that death resulted. He said that Holmes
was man OF sixty-ive years without mind enough
to realize what he had done, and was entirely with
out friends or MEANS
THE TESTIMONY.
Dr. L. Tyler testified as to the wound and On1cer
Oliver as to taking Banks body to the moFgue.
Mrs Sarah Z. Posey testified that she lived on
street, near the Eastern Branch; that Holmes
Holmes say to Banks: "Your mother never raised
you to that" and then saw Banks go to the house,
and saw Holmes Strike MIN, knocking MIN 10 MS
knees, and then he struck him a second time. She
called her son, VINO ran out, and defendant threw
the stick away. Holmes then said that he struck
him because he would not pay him five cents. She
had heard him, two weeks before, say that he
would kill him, out he believed that he would pay
him the i've cents yet.
samuel r. Posey, tr, boy Of nine years. the
grandson OF the preceding witness, testified that
he was at his grandmOtherS on the sunday OF the
trouble. It was about q bottle. Holmes and
Banks were talking, the former curstng the latter
and George hit Banks, ana the latter dropped on
both knees and George hit him again and he fell;
then witness father came out, and Banks was
taken to his house, and Holmes In about an hour
left with his things.
George N. POsey, the father OF preceding wit
ness and Samuel POsey, c0rr0Oorated the other
witnesses Of1cer C. T. Wright testified as to the
arrest.
FOR THE DEFENDANT.
Thos. q. Brooke testified that he knew Holmes
as slave In Caroline County, Va: that he Ne
garded him as non conapos ne,atis
Geo. Kicks testified that he was owned by the
same master, and he regarded Holmes as OF un.
sound mind.
Alexamdria Affair."
Reported for TIE EVENING STAR
DEATH OF THE OLDEST C0LoRRD ODD FEILOw.-
Harmony Lodge OF the coi0red order OF Odd Eel
lows buried to-day its Oldest member, Richard
lancaster who was In his efUhty-sixth year, and
Is said to have been the Oldest col0red Odd Fellow
In IA world